Kolkata: Actor-turned-politician Koel Mallick’s dramatic political U-turn, from a Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) candidate for the same seat, has triggered intense political speculation in West Bengal.

However, there is an important caveat. Mallick has not publicly stated the specific reason behind her decision to resign from the Rajya Sabha or subsequently move towards the BJP.

Her resignation letter did not cite a reason. Therefore, claims about a particular political deal or assurance being responsible for her switch remain unconfirmed.

From TMC nominee to Rajya Sabha MP

Mallick, whose full name is Rukmini Mallick, was nominated by the Trinamool Congress for the Rajya Sabha earlier this year. She took the oath as a member of the Upper House on April 6, 2026.

Her tenure, however, lasted only a little over three months. On July 16, she resigned from the Rajya Sabha. Reports also noted that she did not attend a Parliament sitting during her brief tenure.

Her resignation came after TMC’s Bengal defeat

Mallick’s resignation came after the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, in which the BJP registered a sweeping victory.

According to the Election Commission’s final results, the BJP won 207 of the state’s 294 Assembly seats, while the TMC won 80.

The political upheaval following the election also saw several TMC Rajya Sabha MPs leave the party and move to the BJP.

Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik had resigned from the Upper House before Mallick and subsequently joined the BJP. They later returned to the Rajya Sabha as BJP nominees.

Bhupender Yadav meeting fuelled speculation

Another development that intensified speculation over Mallick’s political future was her meeting with BJP leader and the party’s central observer for West Bengal, Bhupender Yadav, in Delhi on the same day she resigned.

The meeting was reported soon after her resignation and fuelled speculation that she could join the BJP.

At that stage, however, there was no official confirmation of her joining the party, and Mallick had not publicly explained her decision.

BJP names her candidate for the same seat

The political picture became clearer on October 4, when the BJP announced her as its candidate for the West Bengal Rajya Sabha bypoll.

The bypoll was necessitated by the vacancy created after her resignation. Polling is scheduled for October 16.

With the BJP holding a dominant majority in the West Bengal Assembly, Mallick is in a strong position to return to the Rajya Sabha, this time as a BJP member, although the election is yet to take place.

So, why did Mallick leave TMC?

At present, there is no confirmed public explanation from Mallick herself. The following are some of the reasons which might have catalysed this change:

- TMC’s electoral setback: The TMC suffered a major defeat in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.

- TMC MPs switch sides: Several TMC Rajya Sabha MPs resigned and subsequently joined the BJP.

- Koel Mallick resigns: Mallick resigned from the Rajya Sabha on July 16, just over three months after taking the oath.

- Meeting with Bhupender Yadav: On the same day, she met senior BJP leader Bhupender Yadav, fuelling speculation about her political future.

- BJP announces her candidature: On October 4, the BJP named Mallick as its candidate for the vacant West Bengal Rajya Sabha seat.

- Bypoll on October 16: The Rajya Sabha bypoll for the seat is scheduled for October 16.

This sequence has naturally prompted questions about the political calculations behind her decision.

But whether a Rajya Sabha berth, political strategy, ideological considerations or any other factor influenced her decision cannot be established without a statement from Mallick herself.